Page 127 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince

He stays quiet for a while. “I’m not sure,” he says warily, and I’m glad he doesn’t lie to me, even if it hurts. “But she was here to heal you, and I know a part of her is still clinging to the mate bond. Just be honest and genuine with her. I think your honesty might make her give you a second chance.”

I nod. “I promise I will try to move forward from today on and do my best to make amends,” I say, and for once, meaning it. “I was wondering where to start. But I think I’ll talk to Celine first, and then…” I look at him, hoping he will give his okay. “After being a shitty brother, an awful son, a pathetic brother-in-law, and a hideous mate, I thought I could try to be a good uncle, at least.”

His lips tug slightly. “I like that idea. But the next time you throw a bunch of insults at yourself, I’ll kick your ass.”

I chuckle at that thought, before noticing that Dr. Lavard is standing by the door. His expression is unreadable. “Lord Marius, I see you’ve escaped again. Please allow me to accompany you back.”

“I promise it won’t happen again,” I say.

“Yeah,” the doctor frowns. “My son keeps telling me the same, and he is five.”

Liam grins.

I make puppy eyes at the doctor. “Please don’t put me in the naughty corner. I promise I’ll behave.”

Liam groans at my silly joke, while Doctor Lavard rolls his eyes and looks like he’s contemplating a career change. Yeah, I have that effect on people.

Back in my hospital bed after being lectured by one of the nurses, I’m finally alone with my thoughts. This is it. I decide to take the risk and accept Celine. She deserves to feel the full power of the mate bond from me, as it should have been from the start, even if she ultimately rejects me. It’s about time I put my fears aside and show Celine the respect I should have given her from the start. She is my everything, and I was wrong to deny her.

But, before Celine can accept the mate bond, she needs to know the truth about me, my past, and why I behaved so badly. In order to tell her though, I need her to agree to meet me, which will be a whole new level of difficult considering how I’ve treated her.

I grab Liam’s phone, the one he lent me, until I can get mine back, pondering for a moment before swallowing my shame and pressing the call button. My heart picks up pace, almost jumping out of my chest.

What I didn’t expect was for her to answer the call.

“Hello Liam.”

“No,” I stutter. “It’s me…” And then, like the biggest idiot ever, “Marius.”

There is silence between us.

“Why are you calling?” she finally asks.

“I, I still owe you a thank you…” I mutter, like that’s the reason I’m calling.

“You don’t need to thank me,” she says.

Fuck Marius, spit it out. “I’m calling because… well, I should have done this a long time ago,” I admit. “I’m ready to tell you everything. To explain my disgusting behavior and apologize for hurting you the way I have. I realize now that I should have just talked to you the instant we met.” I try to imagine how she looks right now, the look in her eyes, her expression. “Celine, I will do anything to make it up to you. Please give me a chance? And I’m not just talking about being mates, but… in general.”

“I don’t know, Marius,” she pauses. “Because I don’t know you. All I know about you is what has happened during our encounters these past months, and none of it was pleasant. I don’t know how you are with your siblings, or with your friends, or how you were as a kid. I just don’t know you. All I have is the mate bond.”

“Can I invite you for a coffee? No date,” I say quietly. “I know you wouldn’t accept a date, and I would never insult you by asking for one like this. I just want a chance to explain, please. I’ll tell you everything that happened. Just… not over the phone. It doesn’t feel right.” I pause, noting her silence. “I understand if you refuse. Because I know if the tables were turned, I would not be half as gracious of a person as you are.”

She takes a while to answer—a long while. Minutes pass before she finally sighs. “Once your doctor allows you to leave the infirmary, message me. I’ll tell you the time and date. And that’s only because I’m curious about what you have to tell me. Don’t waste my time.”

“I won’t,” I promise.

There is silence between us again, before I finally decide it’s about time I put my fears aside, stop being a coward, and show Celine the respect I should have given her from the start. By accepting her as my mate, I will put myself out there… I don’t want a way out anymore; I want to accept her without conditions.

Even if she will deem me weak after our talk.

If she rejects me, I’ll bear the brunt of it.

“Celine,” I stutter. “I’m going to do something now, and I want you to know that this is in no way supposed to pressure you. I just want you to know that I accept you as my mate, without any conditions, even if you don’t want me. I don’t expect an answer from you anytime soon.” I take a deep breath. “I, Marius Alcott, accept you, Celine Anderson, as my mate.”

“Marius,” she sounds stunned, and then her mind-link comes through.Did you really just do that?

How did you know we can mind-link?I reply, too shocked to say anything else.